Starter bar for use in continuous casting plants

ABSTRACT

A starter bar for use in continuous casting plants has a starter bar head. A coupling for providing a connection with the casting is insertable into a slit in the starter bar head and is detachably connectable with the starter bar head. The coupling may e.g. be a rail or an I-beam. The slit runs horizontally and parallel to the axes of the rollers transporting the starter bar and the casting, and widens to a recess. Rollers in the recess that form a support for the coupling, which is borne detachably and with a certain play in said slit, are arranged vertically.

United States Patent Wiesinger et al.

[451 Nov. 25, 1975 [75] Inventors: Horst Wiesinger; Gunter Holleis,

both of Linz, Austria [73] Assignee: Vereinigte 6sterreichische Eisenund Stahlwerke Alpine Montan Aktiengesellschaft, Linz, Austria [22] Filed: Sept. 26, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 509,649

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 19, 1973 Austria 8872/73 [52] US. Cl. 164/274 [51] Int. Cl. B22D 11/08 [58] Field of Search 164/82, 274

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,239,894 3/1966 Masters 164/274 3,593,776 7/1971 Williamson.... 3,602,290 8/1971 Schmidt 164/274 I6 1718 I2 13 I/ 3,610,321 10/1971 Khimich 164/274 3,627,016 12/1971 Burkhardt.... 164/274 3,627,017 12/1971 Knell 164/274 3,717,198 2/1973 Marti 164/274 Primary Examiner-Francis S. l-lusar Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond A starter bar for use in continuous casting plants has a starter bar head. A coupling for providing a connection with the casting is insertable into a slit in the starter bar head and is detachably connectable with the starter bar head. The coupling may e.g. be a rail or an l-beam. The slit runs horizontally and parallel to the axes of the rollers transporting the starter bar and the casting, and widens to a recess. Rollers in the recess that form a support for the coupling, which is borne detachably and with a certain play in said slit, are arranged vertically.

ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet1of2' 3,921,706

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a starter bar for use in continuous casting plants in which the starter bar has a head that closes the bottom of the mold a coupling that provides the connection with the casting, e.g. a rail or an I-beam, is insertable into a slit in the head and is detachably connectable with it. A number of propositions have been made as to the construction of the starter bar for continous casting plants and for disengaging the starter bar from the casting. In Canadian Pat. No. 733, 026 there is described a flexible starter bar, whose head is provided with vertically arranged slits for receiving rail portions. The starter bar or the starter bar head is disengaged from the rail portions that are fused with the casting by lifting the entire starter bar off the transport roller path in the vertical direction. For this purpose a complicated lifting device has too be provided, e.g. a lifting device as described in Canadian Pat. No. 861, 392. This lifting device comprises a number of carrier supports arranged between the rollers of the roller path and gripping the starter bar from below. According to another proposition the starter bar head is hook-shaped and is connected with the, casting by means of a turning or swivel connection so that by turning or tilting the starterbar head the connection with the casting can be released (Swiss Pat. No. 475,049). In all of these cases the starter bar or at least the starter bar head, which is articulately connected to said starter bar, has to carry out a lifting, swivel or tilting movement in a vertical plane. Therefore, difficulties arise in receiving the starter bar. In particular storage boxes, into which the starter bar is laid till the next casting procedure, must be provided above or below the roller path. Such storage boxes are complicated and in many cases difficult to arrange. They impede the access to the roller path and/or to the starter bar. It is also a difficult procedure to disengage the starter bar head from the casting and a special machine is needed as is described e.g. in the German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,120,694.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention aims at avoiding thesedisadvantages and difficulties. It is the object of the invention to provide a starter bar wherein it is connected tothe casting in a constructionally simple manner, wherein its head is easy to disengage, wherein no storage boxes for receiving the starter bar are necessary and wherein the machinery necessary for removing the starter bar into waiting position can be kept at a minimum.

This task is solved according to the invention in that in a starter bar of the above described type the slit runs horizontally and parallel in relation to the axes of the rollers transporting the starter bar and the casting, and in that the slit widensto a recess in which rollers are arranged vertically for forming a support for the coupling, which is borne in the slit detachably and with play.

Thus, it is possible to push the starter bar horizontally off the roller path so that the roller path is rapidly freed for resuming the transport of the casting.

So as to reduce the friction between the coupling, that is fused on the one side with the casting, and the starter bar, according to a further feature of the inven- 2 tion, the coupling acts together with a spring vertically arranged in the starter bar head to allow for a certain amount of play exclusively on the side facing the rollers for the transport of the casting and the starter bar.

It is advantageous that the coupling be secured in position axially on the one side by a stop and on the opposite side by a detachable and swivable holding plate pressed against the coupling by means of a spring. Thus the coupling is prevented from slipping out of position or falling out while the starter bar is being inserted into the continuous casting machine.

For lateral shifting of the starter bar it is advantageous that a transporting device be assigned to the transporting rollers for gripping the starter bar from below. This device is shiftable horizontally and in parallel relation to the roller axes. In addition the transporting device comprises carrier supports and at least the carrier supports are shiftable in the vertical direction and in parallel relation to themselves by at least a small amount of play.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention and an embodiment thereof will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a starter bar of the invention resting upon a horizontal roller path and connected with a casting;

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section along line II-II of FIG. 3 of the connection between the starter bar head and the casting:

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view, partly in section and on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 4 shows a section through a water-cooled mold with a starter bar head according to the invention before the beginning of casting.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the casting l in this embodiment a slab of rectangular cross section is connected via a coupling 2 with an articulate starter bar 3. The coupling 2 is cast into the casting l and is detachably fastened in the starter bar head 3. Rollers of a roller path are denoted with 4. This roller path is arranged to follow an arcshaped strand guiding zone (not illustrated). Between said rollers, carrier supports 6, which are part of a starter bar shifting device (not illustrated either) are arranged. The direction of movement of said carrier supports, denoted by the arrows 7, runs perpendicular to the horizontal transport direction 5 of the starter bar 3 and the casting 1.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 the, coupling 2 is formed by a rail portion whose head 8 is cast into the slab 1 and whose rail foot 9 is supported against rollers 11. The rollers 11 are vertically arranged in a recess 10 of the starter bar head 3 and are freely rotatable about an axis 12. Distance bushings are denoted with 13. A detachable portion 14 of the starter bar head 3' is secured to the head 3 by screws 15 so as to be removable in order to carry out the mounting and maintenance of the rollers 1 1. On the side of the head facing the rollers 4, a vertically shiftable ram 16 acting upon the rail foot 9 is arranged. This ram, by means of a pressure spring 17 supported by a pressure plate 18, presses the coupling 2 upward into the position shown in the drawing. Therefore, in the horizontal slit 10', which is connected with the recess 10 and serves for receiving the coupling 2, a play s of approx. 3 to 5 MM is formed. The ram 16.

is shiftable by the same distance. In detaching the starter bar 3 from the casting 1 the horizontal carrier supports 6 are actuated in the directions of the double arrow. When in the starting position, the carrier supports 6 lie below the starter bar 3 at a distance a. After lifting the starter bar 3 by a few mm it is shifted horizontallyand in parallel relation to itself in the direction of arrow 7. In so doing the rollers 11 roll on the rail foot 9 and practically no resistance on account of friction occurs, as is the case in known constructions in which the rails frequently become jammed in the slit.

After driving out the starter bar 3 laterally a new coupling (FIG. 3) is inserted and is axially secured in its position by means of a holding plate 19 and a stop 21. Plate 19 is swivable about a vertical axis 22 and has a tension spring secured to it. Subsequently, the starter bar 3 is again shifted towards the roller path and is lowered onto the rollers 4.

In FIG. 4, 23 denotes the water-cooled mold and 24 denotes the cavity for the cooling water. At conduits 25 and 26 the cooling water is supplied to and removed from the mold, respectively. Reference number 27 indicates asbestos cords for sealing the gaps between the starter bar head and the mold, and reference number 28 indicates a layer of turning chips and scrap parts.

To use the starter bar 3 it together with the starter bar head 3 is first pushed into the mold 23. By means of asbestos cords 27, turning chips and/or scrap parts 28, the front side of the starter bar head 3 from which the coupling member 2 projects is covered and sealed. The steel flowing from the tundish (not shown) into the mold 23 comes into contact with the layer 28 and solidifies immediately, welding only with the coupling member 2 and not with the front face of the starter bar head 3. When the strand 1 is extracted from the mold 23 most of the turning chip layer 28, inserted prior to casting, falls off and leaves the front face of the starter bar head 3 free.

What we claim is:

1. A starter bar for use in a continous casting plant having rollers for transporting a casting, comprising:

a starter bar body;

a starter bar head attached to one end of said starter bar body, said starter bar head having a slit in it that runs horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said starter bar body, the slit in said starter bar head opening into a wider recess in said starter bar head;

a coupling for connecting the casting with said starter bar head, said coupling having one end adapted to be fused in the casting and the other end detachably connectable with said starter bar head, said other end of said coupling being horizontally insertable into the slit and recess of said starter bar head; and

starter bar rollers arranged vertically in the recess of said starter bar head for supporting said coupling with play in the slit.

2. The starter bar set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling is a rail.

4. A starter bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein said starter bar head is detached from said coupling by a 5 transporting device that grips said starter bar from below, said transporting device comprising carrier supports and means for moving the carrier supports vertically and horizontally.

5. A starter bar for use in a continuous casting plant having rollers for transporting a casting, comprising:

a starter bar body;

a starter bar head attached to one end of said starter bar body, said starter bar head having a slit in it that runs horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said starter bar body, the slit in said starter bar head opening into a wider recess in said starter bar head;

a coupling for connecting the casting with said starter bar head, said coupling having one end adapted to 20 be fused in the casting and the other end detach ably connectable with said starter bar head, said 1 other end of said coupling being horizontally insertable into the slit and recess of said starter bar head;

starter bar rollers arranged vertically in therecess of said starter bar head for supporting said coupling with a certain play in the slit; and

a spring arranged vertically in the starter bar head for clusively on that side of the coupling that faces the rollers for transporting. 6. A starter bar for use in a continuous casting plant having rollers for transporting a casting, comprising:

a starter bar body; i

a starter bar head attached to one end of said starter bar body, said starter bar head having a slit in. it

that runs horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said starter bar body, the slit in said starter bar head opening into a wider recess in said starter bar head;

a coupling for connecting the casting with said starter I bar head, said coupling having one end'adapted to i be fused in the casting and the other end detachably connectable with said starter bar head, said other end of said coupling being horizontally insertable into the slit and recess of said starter bar head;

starter bar rollers arranged vertically in the recess'of said starter bar head for'supporting said coupling with play in the slit;

a stop in'the starter bar head on one side of the coupling for restraining movement of the coupling in secure the coupling in its position.

moving the coupling to arrange the certain play ex: i

a detachable and swivable holding plate in theistarter 

1. A starter bar for use in a continous casting plant having rollers for transporting a casting, comprising: a starter bar body; a starter bar head attached to one end of said starter bar body, said starter bar head having a slit in it that runs horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said starter bar body, the slit in said starter bar head opening into a wider recess in said starter bar head; a coupling for connecting the casting with said starter bar head, said coupling having one end adapted to be fused in the casting and the other end detachably connectable with said starter bar head, said other end of said coupling being horizontally insertable into the slit and recess of said starter bar head; and starter bar rollers arranged vertically in the recess of said starter bar head for supporting said coupling with play in the slit.
 2. The starter bar set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling is a rail.
 3. The starter bar set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling is an I-beam.
 4. A starter bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein said starter bar head is detached from said coupling by a transporting device that grips said starter bar from below, said transporting device comprising carrier supports and means for moving the carrier supports vertically and horizontally.
 5. A starter bar for use in a continuous casting plant having rollers for transporting a casting, comprising: a starter bar body; a starter bar head attached to one end of said starter bar body, said starter bar head having a slit in it that runs horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said starter bar body, the slit in said starter bar head opening into a wider recess in said starter bar hEad; a coupling for connecting the casting with said starter bar head, said coupling having one end adapted to be fused in the casting and the other end detachably connectable with said starter bar head, said other end of said coupling being horizontally insertable into the slit and recess of said starter bar head; starter bar rollers arranged vertically in the recess of said starter bar head for supporting said coupling with a certain play in the slit; and a spring arranged vertically in the starter bar head for moving the coupling to arrange the certain play exclusively on that side of the coupling that faces the rollers for transporting.
 6. A starter bar for use in a continuous casting plant having rollers for transporting a casting, comprising: a starter bar body; a starter bar head attached to one end of said starter bar body, said starter bar head having a slit in it that runs horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said starter bar body, the slit in said starter bar head opening into a wider recess in said starter bar head; a coupling for connecting the casting with said starter bar head, said coupling having one end adapted to be fused in the casting and the other end detachably connectable with said starter bar head, said other end of said coupling being horizontally insertable into the slit and recess of said starter bar head; starter bar rollers arranged vertically in the recess of said starter bar head for supporting said coupling with play in the slit; a stop in the starter bar head on one side of the coupling for restraining movement of the coupling in one direction; a detachable and swivable holding plate in the starter bar head on the other side of the coupling for restraining movement of the coupling in the other direction; and a spring for pressing the plate against the coupling to secure the coupling in its position. 